Retired Nevada Supreme Court justice claims Real Water caused husband’s death
Summary
Retired Nevada Supreme Court Justice Abbi Silver has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit alleging that bottled water maker Real Water caused her husband Kirk Jaster’s ALS, which led to his death in September 2024. The complaint, filed in Clark County District Court, says Jaster — previously healthy and athletic — was diagnosed with ALS in February 2022 and that Silver resigned from the court to care for him.
The suit alleges Real Water (Affinitylifestyles.com) marketed its water as extremely healthy while tests by the FDA found hydrazine, a toxic chemical used in rocket fuel, at the company’s facility. Silver’s lawyers say scientific literature links hydrazine exposure to progressive brain diseases including ALS. The complaint accuses Real Water, a Sprouts location, and distributor KeHE of negligence, failure to warn and wrongful death. The case follows multiple prior juries issuing multi-billion-dollar verdicts against Real Water and links to other injuries and deaths.
Key Points
- Abbi Silver sued Real Water after her husband Kirk Jaster developed ALS in 2022 and died in September 2024.
- The complaint alleges Real Water contained hydrazine, a toxic rocket-fuel chemical, and that the FDA found hydrazine at the company’s facility.
- Attorneys say scientific studies connect hydrazine exposure to progressive brain diseases, including ALS — the suit cites previous ALS clusters involving hydrazine exposure.
- This is at least the fifth lawsuit tying Real Water to a death; juries have previously awarded multi-billion-dollar verdicts against the company (including $3B, $3B and $5B rulings).
- Sprouts and distributor KeHE are named as defendants; at least 90 people are alleged to have been injured after drinking Real Water, according to the filing.
- Claims in the suit include negligence, failure to warn and wrongful death; Silver’s children are also plaintiffs.
- Promotional ties noted: UFC fighter Gray Maynard had promoted Real Water, though he is not named as a defendant in this case.
Context and relevance
The lawsuit adds to mounting legal and public-health scrutiny of Real Water after multiple high-profile verdicts and reported illnesses. If allegations about hydrazine contamination hold up, there are wider implications for bottled-water safety, distributor and retailer liability, and regulatory oversight. The case may influence ongoing and future litigation, consumer confidence in niche bottled-water brands, and how supermarkets and distributors vet products they sell.
Why should I read this?
Look — this isn’t just another court story. A retired state supreme court justice is suing a bottled-water maker after her fit, sporty husband got ALS and died. The suit names a rocket-fuel chemical and follows giant jury verdicts against the company. If you buy bottled water from niche brands, work in retail or distribution, or follow product-safety and liability trends, this one matters. We’ve pulled the main facts so you don’t have to read the whole court filing unless you want the gory detail.